Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Pittsburgh Panthers Free Pick 10/12/13

NCAAF Football: Saturday, October 12, 2013 at 12:00 pm (Lane Stadium)

TV: ESPNU

The Pittsburgh Panthers travel to Virginia Tech to play the Hokies on Saturday.

The Panthers are coming off a bye week and are 3-1 on the season. Pittsburgh has won three straight contests and is coming off a bye week after beating Virginia 14-3 two weeks ago. In the win over Virginia, the Panthers offense only gained 199 total yards and turned the ball over twice. QB Tom Savage completed only 13 of 20 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions before leaving late in the fourth quarter. WR Tyler Boyd caught 7 passes for 11 yards for Pittsburgh. A week after giving up 55 points to Duke, the Panthers defense shut down the Cavaliers, allowing only 188 total yards and forcing three turnovers. The teams combined for 17 punts, five turnovers and zero momentum throughout the game. Pittsburgh had produced 589 total yards in a shootout win over Duke the week prior and the Panthers scored 49 points against Mexico in their second game of the season. The Panthers rank 43rd in passing yards per game with 265 and 88th in rushing yards with 140.3 a game. Pittsburgh’s offense will face a tough Virginia Tech defense on the road this week.

Virginia Tech is 5-1 and winners of 5 straight after beating North Carolina 27-17 on Saturday. The Hokies jumped out to a 14-0 lead and never looked back as QB Logan Thomas matched a career high with three touchdown passes. The first half was all Thomas and receivers Willie Byrn, Demitri Knowles, and D.J. Coles. Thomas completed 13 of 20 passes in the first half for 230 yards, accounting for most of the Hokies’ 277 yards. Thomas finished 19 of 28 for 293 yards for the Hokies, who still struggled to get their running game going. RB Edmunds carried the ball 14 times of 27 yards and a touchdown. Virginia Tech’s defense played great again, allowing 376 yards and only 99 on the ground against a solid Tar Hell offense. The Hokies forced three turnovers and did a great job getting off the field on third down. Virginia Tech ranks 12th in the country in points allowed, giving up only 16 points per game to their opponents thru six games. The Hokies lost their season opener to Alabama before winning five straight games, including quality wins over Marshall and Georgia Tech. Virginia Tech will try to stay perfect in conference play when they host the Panthers this weekend.

The Hokies are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games against a team with a winning road record. The Hokies are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games following an ATS win. The Panthers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings. The over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings. The underdog is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings.

Pittsburgh has won the last four meetings between these two teams, including an 18 point win at home last year against the Hokies. The Panthers defense has been inconsistent, but so has the Virginia Tech offense. The Hokies defense is stingy to say the least and it will be tough for Pittsburgh to score in this one. If Thomas can make some plays through the air and give the Hokies defense a lead I think Virginia Tech wins this game. However, this game should be low scoring and I think the play is to take Pittsburgh and the points.

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